What we're doing

We’ll be making the College’s main entrance more accessible and welcoming, allowing it to fulfil the needs of a 21st century Porters’ Lodge and to adapt to the ways in which the role of the Porter has changed in recent years.

Our Solutions

Issue: The main gates currently cannot be open during normal operating hours, leading to a number of challenges. It can be difficult for visitors to identify the College’s main entrance, and access is via the wicket door within the main gate, which is both narrow and involves stepped access and low headroom, restricting access to users. 

Solution: Following the works, the main entrance gate to the College will be held open during normal operating hours. This enables the entrance to the College to be more visible and welcoming, whilst also allowing level access from St Giles into the College via the passageway alongside the Lodge. 

Issue: The current arrangements in the Lodge mean that only one visitor can be dealt with at a time. Others are required to wait in the main gate passageway, further restricting movement here. There is also confusion as to the route into the College, as it is unclear that visitors should first report to the Lodge rather than walking straight through to Front Quad.

Solution: The Lodge will now have an ‘in’ door, and an ‘out’ door, separated by a gateway blocking access to Front Quad, but allowing a view in. Visitors will have to come into the Lodge itself, where the new desk arrangement will allow multiple queries to be dealt with at once. 

Issue: The door into the Lodge is very narrow, and also has a step behind it, meaning that the Lodge is not accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with other disabilities. 

Solution: The floor of both the passageway and the Lodge will be levelled out, so that there is completely level access from St Giles, through the Lodge and into Front Quad. This will make the Lodge and the entrance to the College fully accessible to wheelchair users. 

Issue: The internal configuration of the Lodge no longer serves modern requirements – the reception area is too small and an awkward corridor layout. The reception counter is too high, meaning that it is not accessible for wheelchair users. 

Solution: The internal areas of the Lodge are being completely redesigned, to improve the experience for both visitors to the College and the Porters who work there. 

Issue: The Lodge Team Managers’ offices are both in the rear of the Lodge, a long way from the main visitor reception and the rest of their teams. 

Solution: By moving the offices into a location in the centre of the Lodge, managers will have a better overview of traffic in the main Lodge.  

Accessibility

Prior to the refurbishment work on the Lodge, both the main gates and the Lodge itself were inaccessible for disabled visitors to College. Thanks to the work we’re carrying out, the Lodge will soon be fully accessible to all visitors. 

Currently, disabled visitors wishing to enter the College via Front Quad must use an access controlled side door in Dolphin Quad, where level access is provided. Through opening up the main gate doors, which currently have stepped access through a wicket door, and removing stepped access into the Lodge from the passageway, there will be full level access to the College for all visitors via the main entrance. 

Design Principles

Our redesign of the entrance area to College will resolve current issues with a simple, detailed, highly-crafted and contemporary design approach, ensuring that the College will be able to operate successfully both now and in the future. 

Through resolving current access issues, we will create an inclusive environment that is suitable and available for all. 

At every stage, options have been explored for each decision to limit impact on ‘Historic Fabric’ wherever possible. 

We will be using high-quality materials throughout, which are compatible with the existing building and local landscape. Our designs include details taking their cues from the architectural styles used elsewhere in the College, including in our new Library and Study Centre.